Hot on the heels of the bizarre allegation by the NFP General Secretary, Kamal Iyer, of a conspiracy led by Alexandra Forwood to derail the government and bring down Biman Prasad comes a counteroffensive on social media on the NFP leader’s behalf.
A new Facebook page calling itself “Heart of Nation” is extolling Biman Prasad’s supposed virtues and targeting his alleged tormentors, including Alex Forwood and Victor Lal, the Oxford-based academic and journalist whose Fijileaks has accumulated a mass of information on Biman Prasad and has made detailed allegations of wrongdoing in relation to his financial affairs.
Victor Lal is known to have provided scores of documents to both the Fiji Police and FICAC, which eight days ago charged Biman Prasad with making a false declaration to the Elections Office failing to declare his directorship of a company and hiding his true income. It has forced the NFP leader to relinquish his role as deputy prime minister and minister for finance and he now sits on the backbench of parliament awaiting trial.
The authors of “Heart of Nation” haven’t revealed themselves. But the dropping of the article “the” between “of” and “nation” is a quaint feature of local English expression, particularly among Indo-Fijians, and given its content, we can assume the page is run by Biman Prasad’s supporters and maybe even the NFP.
They are describing the charge against the NFP leader – which carries a ten year jail sentence – as “technical” and argue that the focus must be on the “bigger picture” – what they call Biman Prasad’s “unwavering commitment to the people of Fiji”. And for the first time, the so-called conspirators that Kamal Iyer referred to in his recent statement are named.
They are – according to “Heart of Nation” – Victor Lal, Rajend Chaudhry, Alex Forwood and FICAC. (in that order). FICAC? So the new FICAC Acting Commissioner, Lavi Rokoika, is conspiring against Biman Prasad? As allegations go, it doesn’t get more damaging – a direct assault of the integrity of the corruption watchdog and its head. And it’s fair bet that if that is the public accusation of the NFP leader’s masked supporters, it is also more than likely to be the position of Biman Prasad himself.
Victor Lal – in his role as a journalist who has acquired a great deal of information about Biman Prasad’s affairs – is fully entitled – some might say has a duty – to assist the authorities if he has evidence of alleged wrongdoing. So it is definitely NOT a “conspiracy” or “collusion” for Lal to be communicating with FICAC investigators and assisting them with their inquiries. It is, in fact, common practice between investigative journalists and law enforcement agencies.
As for Rajend Chaudhry – the Auckland-based lawyer and son of the Labour Party leader and former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry – and Alex Forwood – the Sydney-based keyboard warrior – we know they have a relationship because Chaudhry represented Forwood at the Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry into the Malimali affair. But a conspiracy? Collusion?
If anyone exchanges information, that is not a conspiracy, which the dictionary defines as “a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful”. Take it from me – because Grubsheet has occasionally exchanged information with Lal, Chaudhry and Forwood but definitely not FICAC – there is no “secret plan to do anything unlawful”. On the contrary, we all want to see the rule of law upheld. And if there has been wrongdoing, we want it exposed and wrongdoers brought to account in the national interest.
Along with Manoa Kamikamica, Biman Prasad has been charged with serious criminal conduct. He deserves the fundamental right of any accused – the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Yet It is Biman Prasad’s supporters – including “Heart of Nation – who are turning that principle on its head by insisting on a presumption of innocence irrespective of the evidence or a judicial verdict.
It is advocacy on behalf of the NFP leader which sails perilously close to being in contempt of the proceedings. And the attack on FICAC and the notion that it is “colluding” with Victor Lal and is “stupid enough to buy his cooked evidence against Professor Prasad” is an outrage designed to bring the corruption watchdog into disrepute.
It is a full-blown assault on the rule of law and if FICAC can find any evidence of a link between the individuals behind “Heart of Nation” and Biman Prasad, charges should be laid against all of them. Because that is a genuine conspiracy – a secret plan to do something unlawful and harmful – and the conspirators must be exposed and brought to justice.
WEDNESDAY UPDATE:
Biman Prasad is under fresh attack for his role in the Pacific Polytech scandal, which is also being investigated by FICAC and is the antithesis of the transparency and accountability that his devotees are crowing about in their defence of his position.
Grubsheet has nothing in the way of fresh insights to add to the excellent commentary on the Pacific Polytech affair by Victor Lal – who has long been detailing the highly questionable relationship between Biman Prasad and Pacific Polytech’s Ganesh Chand – and draws the attention of our readers to the Fijileaks site.
One thing is certain. The cronyism that Biman Prasad accused FijiFirst of in the lead-up to the last election has been a sorry feature of his own period in government. And as he prepares to face his forthcoming criminal trial, another blowtorch is being applied to the NFP leader and his tattered reputation.
The “Heart of Nation” is clogged with the cholestrol from the “Chops” which has led to “stroke” (Brain Damage). The Heart of Nation think that they are beyond the Kingdom of Yamraj where the deeds are weighed and ones fate is decided accordingly. His/Her majesty “Yamraj” has transfered your leaders case to the Fiji Judiciary to deal. Your appeal will be heard by Yamraj later sometime in the future (date unknown) which will be after after the case is finalzied by the Fiji Court. There is nothing technical in the charge. Its so simple on the balance of probablity or “pub test”.
These morons are the a*se of the nation. Karia motar lal batti is fully behind this silly, stupid initiative.
Kamal ears and shameless baimaan think they are smart. Yet they come across as low down over-used cheap whores.
His bociguard is full of himself – setting up such a page.
Heart of a nation indeed – how about the poor hindis who are crying themselves to sleep every night over their $5 lamb chops nightmare
Again i say that all booby traps and political death trap baits set up by Khaiyum with his draconian laws tailor made to derail any successive government when he left is working effectively. The current regime fools are eating all baits effectively and are now vomiting to death one by one. Realize this.
How is this a booby trap by Khaiyum (TGAGE)?
Lest you forget – TGAGE means the greatest attorney general ever!
The learned professor of economics impaled himself on his own pole.
Hahaha! Impaled. Good one!
The former AG continues to live rent free in t.a.b and his ilks head.
T.A.B–Nah mate there is no death trap baits. It is the conduct and actions in breaking laws that has gotten Mr Sweet and Karia Motar Lal Batti. Nothing to do with ASK and everything to do law breaking.
So yeah, no booby traps, unless you might be refering to ex-FICAC commissioner aunty titi. Now those boobies have trapped more than a few men.
Guess what Biman won’t do? He will not call out fake pages who post things in his favour.
I think Hitler’s supporters also came out clamouring that people needed to look at the “bigger picture” and that he was “saving Germany from enemies of the state” when he was busy gassing Jewish people and committing atrocities everywhere and the world started to protest him.
I’m surprised a page has not been set up in a similar fashion to tell the world that the rapist pedophile diaper wearing President of Fiji did what he did “for the good of Fiji” and we should all look at the “bigger picture.”
But why stop there? Why not a page for Lynda Tabuya as well when she was found guilty of her lecherous acts and drug consumption in Australia? Did she do what she did “for the good of Fiji” and we need to look at the “bigger picture” as well?
These people have no limits when it comes to stooping so low, just to keep their hands in the coffers and leech off the land, while the ordinary Fijians suffer.
Please Pramesh Pussy Grabber Sharma – stop dissing what’s written in this forum, you obviously read it to comment with your so called friends on your FB page, accept it, you are a monkey with more crap in your head than your intestine.
GD, AF and VL are the only voices of reason while you talk sh*t and have no relevance – you are scum and I suggest you hide like Biman and your mate Moana – you Pussy Grabber.
The NFP lowlife grog doped scumbags and their saapos, I mean supporters, can whinge, cry, and do all they can to rally behind the sex for grades book economist but it won’t change anything. It’s a truly desperate attempt to hang on to whatever little reputation and dwindling support he has left.
Richard in his fishnet stockings must be prostituting his services and has gathered incognito keyboard warriors to do the dirty work as they did in the lead up to the 2022 elections.
Baimaan the serial harasser and sex pest has been going around and bitching about losing his post and salary and how Rabuka f**ked him over.
More charges to come soon especially with Pacific Polytech govt grants now undergoing scrutiny.
Baimaan should spend more time looking for good quality lubes. 😁
While he didn’t deliver bread/lamb chops to the masses he has certainly delivered a great circus full of clowns – most of those moonlight as lawyers.
It was mistakes made on day 1 that have proved fatal and letting lawyers anywhere near fiscal policy is always a disaster. Credibility and reputations have been blown.